Star Carlton defender Jacob Weitering still believes the Blues are ready to "take off" despite the club enduring another stuttering AFL campaign.
An eighth straight season looks to end without a Carlton finals appearance, with pressure growing on coach David Teague.
Carlton seemed poised to take a major step towards reclaiming their powerhouse club status this year, after snaring high-profile recruits Adam Saad and Zac Williams during the trade period.
But at 4-9, diehard Blues supporters are growing restless with the club last playing off in a grand final in 1999.
That is the equal current longest drought, alongside North Melbourne, without featuring in an AFL decider.
Weitering concedes it must be frustrating for the long-suffering Carlton base because even he thought this could be a year of significant improvement.
"I fully believed (in the pre-season) and I still believe we're ready to take off," the 23-year-old said.
"Last year was a different year for many reasons and we would have liked to have played finals but that wasn't a reality.
"At the moment, finals isn't looking like a reality. We've got the pieces there, we've got be accountable and we've got to execute.
"I haven't done a lot of (winning) in my career so far and I guess that's part of being a professional footballer, and to use Teaguey's terminology, we're in a bit of a pit at the moment.
"It is really frustrating for sure, but from what I've heard it makes all the times when you are winning and successful even better."
The former No.1 draft pick won't hear the criticism around Teague, saying the former Blues best-and-fairest winner is working harder than anyone.
Weitering was one of three Carlton leaders, including co-captain Patrick Cripps and key defender Liam Jones, to go into bat for Teague this week.
"When things aren't going well it's very easy and human nature to pin it on someone," Weitering said.
"At the moment he's copping a lot of it and shouldering the load.
"I'd prefer for it to almost be put on the players because at the moment we're not going out there and performing and winning games."
Australian Associated Press
